EUGENE, Ore – The No. 8 Oregon volleyball team will host the Oregon Classic this weekend, a four-team tournament which will pit the Ducks against Eastern Washington, Bryant and Ohio at Matthew Knight Arena. Oregon will start by facing Eastern Washington, Friday at 7 p.m., and Bryant (11 a.m.) and Ohio (7 p.m.), Saturday.

The beginnings of seasons have been a specialty for both the Oregon program and ninth-year head coach Jim Moore. The Ducks have won their last nine season openers and are 33-7 in the first match of the season since individual match records were kept in 1973. That mark is an 82.5 winning percentage, 30 percentage points higher than the program’s overall winning percentage (52.6%).

This year’s team will look to keep that trend going against Eastern Washington which finished with a 5-26 record last season and lost its top attacker and setter.

Bryant also struggled last season, which was their first in Divison I. The Bulldogs put together a 12-21 record but return 10 letter winners including sophomore Clair Van Dyk who led the team in kills in 2012.

The tournament finale, Saturday looks to be a competitive one as the Ducks take on 2012 Mid-American Conference Champion, Ohio. While the Bobcats lost All-Mac selection Serena Warner to the Ducks, they will still come to Eugene with some firepower, anchored by 2012 MAC Player of the Year Kelly Lamberti as well as All-MAC First Team selection Chelsea Bilger and 2012 MAC Co-Freshman of the Year Meredith Ashy.

With three matches in two days, the weekend will mark a fast start to the season where the Ducks are already in unprecedented territory after being ranked eighth in the AVCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the highest preseason ranking in school history.

Oregon Classic Schedule

Friday

Ohio vs. Bryant

4:30 p.m.

Friday

Eastern Washington vs. Oregon

7 p.m.

Saturday

Bryant vs. Oregon

11 a.m.

Saturday

Eastern Washington vs. Ohio

1 p.m.

Saturday

Bryant vs. Eastern Washington

4:30 p.m.

Saturday

Ohio vs. Oregon

7 p.m.

Weekly Notes (Complete notes linked in PDF form)

Promotions: Friday - Bi-Mart $3 Day - Fans who show their Bi-Mart card at the ticket window will receive a $3 general admission ticket.

Saturday – Fans who purchase a ticket for the first Oregon match at 11 a.m., will receive a free general admission voucher for the second Oregon match at 7 p.m. Fans can also gain a $1 admission to the 7 p.m. match by showing their Nicholls State football ticket stub.

Fans will be able to pick up the 2013 posters and have them signed by this year’s team after the 7 p.m., match on both Friday and Saturday.

Assists Ascension: Senior setter Lauren Plum enters the season with 4,194 career assists, ranking second in school history. Plum is 206 assists from tying Nevena Djordjevic (2006-09) who currently holds the record with 4,400 assists.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.

The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.

Get up Close and Personal: Premium Courtside Seats are now available for the 2013 season on a game-by-game basis. Purchase yours online HERE.